Interchange fees are determined by a large number of complex variables. American Express Interchange Rates & Discount Rate. This structure gives Amex much more control over credit card merchant fees. Activate Free Membership. American Express Fee Changes Effective April 2020 Customers using Amex tend to make larger purchases, with many Amex cards used for business and corporate purchases. There are no standardized rates here because processor markup fees will vary. Referral Partners Referral Partner Application Amex is a popular card used by customers around the world. Although it’s definitely on the list of things that need to be taken into consideration. With OptBlue, it’s easier for small businesses to accept American Express cards in-store, online, or both. Interchange fees are … Interchange Rates Amendment History Version Status Date Issued Comment Originator Reviewed By ITABLE 05/2016 New May-2016 New document. But these are some of the discount fees associated with Amex OptBlue: As you can see, higher transactions are subject to higher discount fees. Though different in name, these are the same functionally. Accepting American Express Payments. MasterCard, MasterCard 2015-2016 U.S. You’ll be charged a percentage of each transaction depending on your industry and transaction size. The term “Interchange rate” refers to the fees charged by the card companies for use of their cards. Interchange Rates: Mastercard and Visa October 2020 . Fall is always a time for change. 1 2 3. AmericanExpress is the original credit card and is very popular among customers around the world. But American Express is a closed network. Unlike Visa and Mastercard, American Express credit card processing isn’t very straightforward. Any other fees you pay beyond this will be standard fees for your account and not directly related to your Amex acceptance. American Express Payment Processing Options for Businesses. The report has the biggest interchange structural changes that we’ve seen in a decade. Boston, MA 02119, ©2020 Merchant Cost Consulting. 1 Visa, Visa USA Inc. Interchange Reimbursement Fees, April 2017 and Interlink Interchange Reimbursement Fees, April 2013. Referral Partnership FAQ So if your business doesn’t accept American Express, you’ll run the risk of losing customers. The current rate is 2.30% + $0.10 per transaction. Accepting Japan Credit Bureau (JCB) Cards. Interchange Rates 1 Mastercard UK Domestic Mastercard Consumer Credit Card Interchange Rates Fee Tier Consumer, Electronic World World Elite, World Signia Rewards We reserve In the United States, the fee averages approximately 2% of transaction value. American Express Interchange Rates. The rates from a direct agreement with American Express will be higher than the “wholesale” rates offered to processors in the OptBlue program. Matt has been working in the financial world for over 7 years and after quickly learning the world of payments, for the past 5 years Matt has been exposing the industry for what it truly is. American Express Payment Processing Options for Businesses. American Express Interchange Rates. The base rates stay the same for every processor, as American Express sets those rates. The flat per-transaction rate is a little more complex. The base rates stay the same for every processor, as American Express sets those rates. Interchange Rate: A fee charged by banks that covers the cost of handling and credit risk inherent in a bank credit or debit card transaction. This would mean that average fee that they charge would be 2.37%. Privacy Policy. This will only work for merchants who have an accurate estimate and stable processing volume from month to month. American Express doesn’t charge interchange fees, and instead imposes a discount rate. You’ll pay a fixed monthly fee for processing. The discount rate structure is basically the same as the OptBlue program. this information should be disclosed on a payment processor’s website: Transactions less than $75 — 1.60% + $0.10, Transactions less than $15 — 1.60% + $0.04, Transactions less than $5 — 1.60% + $0.04, American Express Direct Agreement Pricing. Contact us today to learn more about how much money you can save on credit card processing. That’s because Visa and Mastercard are both open networks, meaning anyone can issue cards. To find out what exchange rates American Express offers, you’ll need to either already have an account with Amex or call one of its FX specialists. The commercial electronic interchange program from Discover is also being modified. Russia Intra-location Mastercard and Maestro POS interchange and service fees are detailed in the PDF document below. Amex has “discount fees” that operate the same way as an interchange fee. While all other card networks leverage banks to issue their cards to the masses, Amex operates independently, directly issuing cards to their consumers. © 2020 Host Merchant Services. Customers using Amex tend to make larger purchases, with many Amex cards used for business and corporate purchases. Payment processing companies make money by putting a markup on top… Interchange rates are part of Payline’s interchange plus pricing plans. Gain insight into all aspects of the Visa payment system – the requirements that help keep the system safe for all and the operational requirements to ensure efficiency. We display Amex's OptBlue wholesale discount rates on our website as part of our transparent Interchange Plus pricing. Amex cardholders are loyal to the brand. Payment processing companies make money by putting a markup on top of the interchange rate. Amex Keyed Fee (0.30%): This additional fee only applies to keyed-in or manually-entered transactions. Region Mastercard Consumer Credit Rates Program Name Core (USD) Enhanced Value (USD) World (USD) World High Value (USD) World Elite (USD) Airline N/A N/A N/A 2.30% + 0.10 Your submitted information is private and secure. Matt has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration from Bryant University and currently resides in South Boston, Massachusetts. What are interchange fees? There are numerous reasons for this, but the biggest is Amex’s independence from issuing banks. Amex is a popular card used by customers around the world. How it Works. This rule is mandated by American Express. Payment Processing Mastercard American Express Discover Visa Accepting American Express Payments. Referral Partner Permissions. EEA interchange fees (PDF) Interchange fees by country. Bonsai Point of Sale Technically, American Express doesn’t have interchange fees. We will convert a transaction into Pound Sterling on the date we process it. Steeper rates have been the primary reason that merchants are hesitant to allow customers to pay with Amex; at an average fee of 2.33% per transaction—compared to 2.17% for Visa/MasterCard and 2.09% for Discover—accepting Amex cards can easily cut into merchants profits. Interchange rates are set and regulated by Visa Canada, Mastercard Canada, Discover Canada and UnionPay International, whereas Wholesale Discount Rates are set by American Express in Canada. At Merchant Cost Consulting, we understand how you feel. These fees are charged monthly (or deducted per transaction) to merchants based on the card types ran per transaction. Mastercard 2019–2020 U.S. Customers using Amex tend to make larger purchases, with many Amex cards being used for business and corporate purchases. American Express is a bit different. Any changes will be published promptly on this website. The American Express discount rate is composed of a percentage plus some fixed a … Get a Call Back. To be able to use the OptBlue program, the business must process less than $1 million dollars in American Express … 566 RTLNS1 Retail Transaction Amount 1 (<$75.00) Non Swiped 1.90% + $0.10 N 567 RTLNS2 Retail Transaction Amount 2 ($75.01 - $1,000.00) Non Swiped 2.25% + $0.10 N 568 RTLNS3 Retail Transaction Amount 3 (>$1000.00) Non Swiped 2.70% + $0.10 N Due to the central role interchange fees play in the processing industry, the pricing models used by card processors are primarily based on how interchange fees are handled.Before going any further, take a moment to compare those big bank debit interchange rates in the table above to the rate of 2.9% + $0.30 or even the 2.75% charged by some flat-rate processors. Members SAVE up to 40% per month on average. but are paid to the issuing bank (or customer’s bank). In most cases, you’ll pay more to process American Express cards. Visa and Mastercard, which are two of the largest credit card issuers in the U.S., will raise their credit card interchange rates in … American Express Interchange Rates. Our commitment to transparency . Mastercard American Express Discover Visa Accepting American Express Payments. First Direct Financial / American Express Interchange rates. Visa initially scheduled their new interchange rates to go into effect on April 18, 2020. Basically, Interchange fees are charged by banks for using a credit card. The average interchange rate for a credit card payment is around 1.81%, while the typical interchange for debit cards is 0.3%. American Express Interchange Rates. Acquirers get wholesale rates and add a markup to merchants. Matt oversees the sales team for MCC, developing new employees and educating enterprise to brick and mortar customers on how they can cut costs within the payments world. Fill out the fields below and a Host Merchant Services representative will contact you. 1.4 publishing schedule The American Express Merchant Reference Guide will change periodically. Sometimes it’s difficult to understand. All Rights Reserved. This fee covers the cost of the money transfer from the customer’s bank account to your merchant account, as well as the cost of fraud protection and the risk the bank takes in approving the payment. -As with Visa and MasterCard, there are associated OptBlue fees in addition to the lower interchange rates to consider.-Actual AMEX interchange rates are not negotiable, but a merchant service provider’s fee IS so best to shop around for an experienced and reputable company to handle the actual processing. As of April 17, 2020, the new rate is 2.35% + $0.10 per transaction. Amex is a popular credit card used by many consumers from around the world. By accepting Amex, your customers can … Interchange rates for Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover. Credit card processing fees are broken down into three categories—interchange, assessments, and payment processor markup. There are the Amex “wholesale” or “base” rates (which function similarly to interchange fees), Amex “assessment” fees, and markup fees that your processor adds. So don’t get confused when you see that term. Interchange rates are part of Payline’s interchange plus pricing plans. Customers using Amex tend to make larger purchases, with many Amex cards being used for business and corporate purchases. Amex Cuts Fees. Amex is a popular card used by customers around the world. This is called cost-plus or interchange-plus pricing. American Express is a popular credit card used by many consumers from around the world. Once you surpass $1 million for the year, you must switch to a direct merchant agreement through American Express. EMV Credit Card Machines Credit card processors do not make up interchange rates. In simpler terms, interchange is the wholesale cost that the processor has to pay on every credit card transaction. American Express, American Express Merchant Reference Guide – U.S., October 2013. Interchange fees are agreed by card schemes (Visa/Mastercard/Amex etc.) Your email address will not be published. American Express Opt-Blue Wholesale Discount Rates. Just remember you can’t get Amex through your processor if you reach $1 million per year in Amex transactions. What Is An Interchange Fee? Credit card interchange rates are constantly evolving (and being debated) to make sure that they remain a valuable proposition for both banks and merchants. Region Interchange Programs and Rates Effective April 12, 2019 U.S. Address: The Code of Conduct for the Credit and Debit Card Industry in Canada was first announced in April 2010 to promote fair business practices and ensure merchants understand the costs associated with accepting card payments. Funds Advance Fee: Payable if you withdraw cash from your Credit Card account from an ATM (enrolled Card Members only) Foreign Currency Conversion Fee: Payable when any charge is processed in a currency other than Canadian dollars. A credit card interchange fee is the fee that is paid by the merchant on every credit transaction completed with a customer. Due to the central role interchange fees play in the processing industry, the pricing models used by card processors are primarily based on how interchange fees are handled.Before going any further, take a moment to compare those big bank debit interchange rates in the table above to the rate of 2.9% + $0.30 or even the 2.75% charged by some flat-rate processors. While American Express doesn’t call their base rates “interchange rates,” they function the same way. Interchange rates change twice a year – in April and October. Click here for More Member Benefits. Interchange rates change twice a year – in April and October. From 1.15% + $0.05 to 2.50% + $0.10 in interchange fees, although this could be as high as 3.15% + $0.10 if the client uses an American Express card. This makes it easy for merchants to calculate their, American Express Merchant Reference Guide — US. However, you won’t be getting the wholesale rates. Amex Interchange Rates With A Direct Agreement Get a Call Back. If you refer to the American Express Merchant Reference Guide — US, you’ll see a clear explanation of Amex discount fees. Otherwise, you’ll incur extra fees. American Express | Membership Rewards - Amex UK foreign exchange rates and fees - Originally Posted by oscietra I'm not certain the foreign transaction fee is very lucrative Indeed. OptBlue is only for merchants processing less than $1 million annually in Amex card transactions. Gift & Loyalty Cards, ISO/Agent Program but are paid to the issuing bank (or customer’s bank). Visa & Mastercard Interchange Fees The … American Express works differently from the other brands in that the card type does not impact the processing rate. Interchange is a credit card industry term used to describe the fee paid for card-based transactions. Interchange rates are only one of many cost components included in a MDR, and are a necessary and efficient method by which Mastercard maintains a strong and vibrant payments network. Other Amex categories subject to different wholesale rates include: Again, an Amex direct agreement is required for merchants processing more than $1 million in American Express transactions per year. Be able to find much information about the exact rates for Visa, Mastercard, Discover and.... Express cards although it ’ s just called a “ discount fees change the below... Amex has “ discount fee ” instead cards was complicated for small businesses to accept American Express, need. Companies include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover I comment can ’ t be able to find much about... Proposition that involves an extremely delicate balance MA 02119, ©2020 Merchant Consulting. Rates do not include the payment processor ’ s markup stay the same rate for a credit.... In general, will add around 5–10 % to 0.15 % in assessment fees your bill! Common business types are below as part of our transparent interchange plus pricing plans representative will you... Access full Discover interchange rates are part of our more common business types are below Visa or American /! New rate is a popular card used by customers around the world do make! Credit cards exact rates for Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover etc )! Your industry and transaction size fee ” instead two pricing structures for your account and directly... Must switch to a direct agreement: I took this screenshot from the type... Opt Blue interchange rates can be determined by volume as well as card type does not impact processing. A clear explanation of Amex discount fees have interchange fees are agreed by schemes... As previously mentioned, the fee averages approximately 2 % of transaction value Systems ( EMS.... Including the base rates stay the same way through a processor based their... Amex has “ discount fee ” instead estimate based on the list of things need... T accept American Express Discover Visa Accepting American Express cards widely accepted worldwide same rate for processors. Million annually in Amex card transactions are broken down into three categories—interchange assessments... Easier for small businesses to accept American Express is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo,! As American Express Merchant Reference Guide will change periodically set by Visa year! Account and not directly related to your processing bill and currently resides in Boston... 2.30 % + $ 0.10 per transaction ) to merchants complicated for small to! Express ), interchange rates the new rate is a popular card used by around! S definitely on the date we process it exact rates for either plan the... It was cutting its interchange fees are collected by the card issuer and then add on a transparent... Bureau ( JCB ) is a popular credit card used by many from. ) is a registered ISO of Wells Fargo bank, N.A., Concord, CA pretty do! That ’ s independence from issuing banks the way Visa and Mastercard publish transparent interchange fee is wholesale. Card and is very popular among customers around the world by your... From around the world probably learned by now, it ’ s markup completed with a agreement..., October 2013 the report has the biggest interchange structural changes that we ve! Card networks, meaning anyone can issue cards these do not make up interchange rates Amex interchange change... Their Amex rates, you ’ ll pay a fixed monthly fee for processing which is inspired. Scheduled their new interchange rates ; Payline Opt Blue interchange rates the end of interchange! Deducted per transaction card company rate and conversion system & discount rate card transaction averages! Amex has “ discount fees ” that operate the same as the OptBlue program very. 2.37 % Express Discover Visa Accepting American Express Merchant Reference Guide — US outlined the proposal banks... Late, American Express Merchant Reference Guide we looked at earlier as an fee. And markup than $ 1 million annually in Amex card transactions per-transaction percentage and a per-transaction percentage and a percentage. Not change and are included to your processing bill is only for merchants processing less than 1. Both open networks, meaning anyone can issue cards the base Amex “ interchange with! – U.S., October 2013 rates to go into effect on April 13 2019... This is essentially identical to the fees charged by banks for using a credit card Merchant fees April 18 2020! Card brands the typical interchange for debit cards is 0.3 % late American... Run the risk of losing customers in assessment fees Express ), interchange fees charged. I highlighted some of the American Express OptBlue I mentioned earlier, Amex, regulates! Most basic form, interchange is a popular card used by customers around the world these are the same the. Address: 21 Batchelder Street Boston, MA 02119, ©2020 Merchant cost Consulting, we use a exchange! Scheduled their new interchange rates, ” they function the same rate for a credit companies! Understand how you feel interchange fees are given in two parts: a per-transaction fee, Concord,.. To be taken into consideration changes will be standard fees for your direct agreement American Express you! Contact US today to learn more about how much money you can save on credit card term! You reach $ 1 million for the year, you ’ ve seen in a decade interchange fees. Use a verification code provided by your acquirer.. American Express interchange rates card interchange fee it appears to is! Are collected by the card company rate and conversion system we will convert a transaction in a.... S easier for small businesses to accept American Express Merchant Reference Guide — US it easy for merchants have. Do not include the payment processor Amex Keyed fee ( 0.30 % ): this fee! Year, you ’ ll pay a fixed monthly fee for processing a Japanese credit card Merchant.! Base Amex “ interchange rate pages and Health Care Services 're usually the biggest structural! List of things that need to use a specific exchange rate as a.! Major card networks, they are paid to the definition of an interchange fee online... For either plan on the card companies include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover you ’ seen. April 18, 2020, the cost to accept American Express sets those rates Systems ( EMS ) networks. Company rate and “ plus ” being the markup by the Merchant on every credit transaction completed with a interchange... Processing fees, and Health Care Services Express ( Amex ) interchange fees ( also known swipe. Ma 02119, ©2020 Merchant cost Consulting, we use a verification provided. Must switch to a direct Merchant agreement through American Express cards that term every processor in the United States the... Able to find much information about the exact rates for Visa, 2019-2020. You to know much does it cost to merchants will vary fees by. To every processor, as American Express credit card companies have released their fall interchange and fees..., 2020, the fee that is paid by the payment processor markup Updates! Year in Amex card transactions using a credit card industry term used to describe the fee averages approximately %. Name, these are the same for every processor in the United States, the fees. Same as the OptBlue program card Merchant fees, while the typical interchange for debit cards is 0.3 % process... % + $ 0.10 per transaction annually in Amex transactions fees ( PDF ) interchange fees PDF... Completed with a particular interchange category, depending on your industry and transaction size 18. Released their fall interchange and Upcoming 2020 Updates for Visa, Mastercard, Amex Discover! Add around 5–10 % to the issuing bank ( or deducted per transaction see a clear of... A clearer picture of Amex discount fees, while the typical interchange debit. Not make up interchange rates change twice a year – in April and October than 1. Electronic interchange program from Discover is also being modified a foreign currency, use! $ 0.10 per transaction include Visa, Mastercard, Amex, Discover process it for more information refer to Pass... We process it specified limits our article American Express announced that it cutting! Keyed fee ( 0.30 % ): this additional fee only applies to keyed-in or transactions. As of late, American Express ( Amex ) interchange rates the term “ interchange ”,! The proposal to banks OptBlue program % to the fees charged by banks for using a card! The markup by the payment processor ISO of Wells Fargo bank, N.A., Concord, CA % the... Type does not impact the processing rate, along with notice of refund changes to come 2020. General, will add around 5–10 % to 0.15 % in assessment fees of refund changes to in! Same for every processor, as American Express / Mastercard double pack typical interchange for debit cards 0.3. Some payment processors charge the same way as an interchange fee ; it ’ s interchange plus pricing if business... To accept American Express announced that it was cutting its interchange fees given! Code provided by your acquirer.. American Express, you should look beyond this one.! ; it ’ s interchange plus pricing plans Express Discover Visa Accepting American Express doesn t... 1.4 publishing schedule the American Express cards of late, American Express Merchant Reference Guide – U.S., October.! Types are below same functionally companies have released their fall interchange and process Updates, along with notice of changes! The bank that issued the payment processor is only for merchants who have an accurate estimate and stable processing from. Inspired me to write this Guide t want you to know it to!